About 500 members of the Accra Archdiocesan Christian Mothers Association (CMA) from all Parishes are embarking on a spiritual pilgrimage to the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto at Kpando Agbenorxoe in the Catholic Diocese of Ho from Friday, May 31 to Saturday, June 1, 2024.
The two-day pilgrimage is on the theme: “Come and Experience the Power of the Holy Spirit.”
Sharing lights on the pilgrimage, Mother Eunice Dumashie, the Accra Archdiocesan President of the CMA told Newswatchgh.com that “We will pray for spiritual healing and protection for all Christian Mothers, Fathers, Sons, and Daughters so we can make huge impact in society.”
At the Grotto, she said “We will also pray for our families, the Church, country, and the world as a whole for peace to reign,” adding, “We will plead with Mother Mary to intercede for the whole world.”
The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) Congregation who are in charge of the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto would lead the pilgrims in the spiritual journey.
The Oblates arrived in Ghana in March 2022 and took over the Parish and the Grotto on July, 1, 2023. Currently there are three Priests working at the Parish and Grotto. They are Fr. Hyacinth Nwaneri from Nigeria, the Parish Priest; Fr. Jean Baptiste Apouvi from Togo, Assistant Priest; and Rev. Fr. Daniel Aliou Mane from Senegal, the Director of the Grotto.
The pilgrims are expected to arrive at the Agbenorxoe Grotto at 5:00pm on May 31 to start Rosary prayers with the Christian community.
There would be half night healing and deliverance service to be led by Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Pani, the Ho Diocesan Chaplain of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR) Movement to conclude the day.
On Saturday, June 1, there would be a talk on Mother Mary, Rosary procession, Stations of the Cross, Mass at Grotto, the launching of the 10th Biennial Conference and donation to the Grotto as part of the CMA’s social responsibility.
The Retreat Master for the pilgrimage would be Fr. Hyacinth while Fr. Jean Baptiste would guide us with the Stations of Cross. The main celebrant for the Mass would be Rev. Fr. David Seyram Addo.
With the Blessed Virgin Mary as its Patron, the Association marks the month of “May” with a series of activities as part of its yearly programme.
Usually, the month of “May” is labeled by the Catholic Church as a Marian month, devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of the Church.
In this month, the Church encourages the observation of daily devotions and prayers for Mother Mary to intercede on behalf of her children.
Last year 2023, the CMA members embarked on a pilgrimage to the Archbishop Andoh Catechetical Centre, a Catholic Spiritual Centre near Shai Hills on the Tema – Akosombo road during which the Mothers undertook a Marian walk through the labyrinth with individual rosary prayers, Stations of the Cross, general confessions and Holy Mass.
By Damian Avevor
